Having need to restock materials this winter I went over to IMS who opened up in Tucson a couple years ago.
Upon entering you find the friend of the hobbiest K&S Metals display kiosk loaded with the majority of their line.
Racks and bins of common metal materials in un-common shapes and forms as well as the more familiar await you.
Along the inner walls are sample displays with type and stock #'s to make desk orders.
Pre cut CR, Aluminum, brass, some SS in 12" and 36" lengths priced by the pound.
Or you may get lucky to pull what you need from the odds & ends bin at a reduced price!
In a back room is this bin of engine builders solid gold....6061 in block and slab form. As you can see there is approximately 2-3 hundred cubic inches of I/C model engines with cyl. heads on the cart.
Also some sheet copper and brass. I find the staff will give a few pieces from here complimentary with purchase.
"flywheel material"! In steel and aluminum, starting a 3 X .5 inch on up to basketball diameters!............Much of their business is decorative iron , gate and fencing, and there are bins of formed material for their customization. Lets take a look at some of the items of interest for engine modelers.
CI half inch width round.....make a bi metal flywheel using this as the tire.
Antique look Stirling CI Flywheel!
This is a stamped steel flower petal......I see a 4 blade cooling fan for Stirling.
For those who make cast iron toys.....this can be a circus wagon wheel!
I haven't a clue but wonder how this form is created in steel.
Building a utility trailer? Lots of bins with bracketing, pre holed for fasteners.
Geez....another head and block table with DOM tubing rack behind.
Half domes in steel.....can make a fuel cup for Stirling here.............Well as you can see, for me there will be no more U.P.S truck stopping by as I can go local now. Industrial volumes or hobby quantities. Helpful friendly staff and never before seen items to stir up the dream designs within us....Industrial Metal Supply!
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